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The Tooth Is Connected to
the...Everything!
Ten Tooth Truths You Probably Don't Know, but Should
Headaches, arthritis, sleep apnea, and
even heart disease can be prevented, treated, or alleviated by addressing
issues with the mouth. But you won't learn this crucial info in most dental
offices. Whole-body dentist Dr. Mark Breiner reveals the connection between
the health of your mouth and overall wellness.
If you’re looking for better health, you may have to
look no further than your mouth. That's right, your mouth has a huge impact
on your overall health. Whenever something goes wrong with your teeth or
your oral health, it can affect other parts of the body—sometimes
profoundly. Likewise, imbalances elsewhere in the body sometimes manifest as
problems with the teeth and mouth. Therefore, caring for your oral health is
about much more than a pretty smile—at least it should be.
“Most people don’t understand that problems with your
teeth—from impacted wisdom teeth to bite problems—can greatly affect your
total health,” says Mark Breiner, author of Whole-Body Dentistry®: A
Complete Guide to Understanding the Impact of Dentistry on Total Health
(Quantum Health Press). “In fact, very few mainstream dentists or even
holistic dentists know this information. Only whole-body dentists even think
this way. We look at your teeth through a different filter, and our
expertise can help you maximize your overall wellness—not just the health of
your mouth.”
Dr. Breiner and his team use leading-edge technology
alongside integrative strategies to give patients beautiful smiles and
healthy mouths. Keep reading for ten insights that most people don't know
about their teeth and how they relate to your overall health and wellness.
Peridontal Disease
Heart disease, stroke, and other deadly diseases can
begin in the mouth. Sometimes periodontal disease is more than just bone
loss. It is well documented that patients with periodontal disease have a
higher risk of heart problems, stroke, premature birth, and more. Therefore,
it is so important to look at a sample of your plaque under a microscope to
determine if you have good or bad bugs present. Your gums may look healthy,
but a bad slide indicates another type of hidden infection. Today,
periodontal disease is often treated by using dental lasers to generate new
bone. Other natural therapies, such as supplementation, oil pulling,
homeopathic remedies, irrigation, and in-office ozone therapy, can also be
helpful.
Energetic Interferences
Tooth pain can be a result of a problem elsewhere in
the body (and vice versa). It is often caused by energetic interferences in
the body. Here's what that means: Every tooth and its surrounding structures
are located on an acupuncture meridian and relate to specific organs,
vertebrae, and muscle groups. An unhealthy or root-canaled tooth can
interfere with the energy flow along the meridian and can affect those
associated organs and tissues. However, it is a two-way street, and
sometimes tooth pain is being caused by an organ problem.
“Here’s an example,” says Breiner. “Esther was
experiencing pain on the side of her head and her right eye tooth became
sensitive. When I examined her, I determined that her tooth was fine.
However, there was a problem with the associated gallbladder meridian—the
same meridian associated with the portion of her head that was hurting. I
treated her to address the problem on that meridian, and subsequently, both
the tooth pain and the head pain went away.”
Root Canals
Root canals are often performed unnecessarily. As
previously mentioned, tooth pain can be caused by an energetic interference
along the body’s meridian pathways. Understanding this relationship is
important because sometimes root canals are performed unnecessarily. When a
root canal is performed and there is still pain, another root canal may be
performed. Ultimately, there is no pain relief, because, in fact, the
underlying problem was not the tooth, but the associated organ. Addressing
the root cause of pain is crucial in avoiding unnecessary and ineffective
procedures.
In addition, a “dead” tooth can equal danger.
Root-canaled teeth are dead teeth, and they give off potent toxins. If your
immune system cannot quarantine the toxins, research shows that they go out
into your system and can cause many diseases, including heart disease,
stroke, arthritis, and much more. In fact, one study showed the DNA of
pathogens typical for root canals and for periodontal infection were present
in the blood clots of patients with acute myocardial infarction!
“Energetically, a root-canaled tooth can be checked
to see if it is impacting one’s health,” says Breiner. “If it is, there are
some things that can be tried to mitigate the situation, such as
strengthening the associated organ, injecting ozone around the tooth, and
building up the immune system. If it cannot be mitigated, removal of the
tooth is best for one’s health.”
Cavitations
You may suffer from hidden dental infections. There
are two main kinds of hidden dental infections that can wreak havoc on your
health: teeth that are dead and tooth extraction sites in which areas of the
bone never healed—also known as cavitations. Teeth that are dead and
asymptomatic can go undetected without a thorough screening. However, they
can be even more toxic than root-canaled teeth! Treatment is either a root
canal or extraction of the dead tooth. And in cavitations, the segments of
dead bone are very toxic and can cause a whole host of symptoms similar to
the symptoms root canals may cause. The usual treatment is surgical
debridement of the area; however, with injections of ozone gas and use of
homeopathics, surgery can usually be avoided.
Amalgam Fillings
Amalgam fillings are poison in your mouth. So-called
“silver” fillings are about 50-percent mercury. Mercury, in any form, is
toxic. The mercury escapes these fillings as a vapor and reaches all your
cells. Anything that stimulates the fillings, such as brushing or chewing or
removal of the fillings, substantially increases the amount of mercury
vapor. Concerned about the toxic effect of mercury fillings, the European
Parliament recently voted to ban the use of amalgam fillings in children
under age 15, in pregnant women, and in nursing mothers.
“There is no safe level of mercury in the body,” says
Breiner. “Yes, it is a small amount that vaporizes, but it is cumulative.
The more fillings you have, the more mercury you have in your brain. Mercury
also crosses the placental barrier and goes straight to the fetus, and
accumulates in the mother’s milk. The perils of mercury go on and on.
However, safe removal of mercury fillings requires knowledge in what to do
before, during, and after their replacement.”
Metals in the mouth cause electrical interferences.
“When dissimilar metals are placed in a saltwater solution like saliva, an
electric current is generated,” says Breiner. “Mercury fillings and other
metals in the mouth sometimes generate enough current to interfere with your
meridians. Your brain, which is only a few inches away from your mouth, can
likewise be affected. Brain neurons fire at about 70 millivolts, and I have
seen metals in the mouth generate over 900 millivolts! It’s no wonder that
patients with these high voltages couldn’t think clearly! The solution, of
course, is to not use metals in the mouth. Today, we are fortunate that this
can be avoided in most instances.”
Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Many children suffer from an undiagnosed
sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Improper jaw development can result in a
restricted airway, causing SDB. This is often the result of prolonged
bottle-feeding, pacifier use, thumb-sucking, a tongue-tie, or heredity. SDB
is often the underlying cause of ADD, fatigue, bedwetting, behavioral
problems, speech impediment, poor school performance, and more. SDB problems
in adults are related to higher incidents of hypertension, heart disease,
stroke, cancer, and more.
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) is another
issue that can lead to a host of problems. The temporomandibular joint is
the joint in front of your ear. When jaw relationship problems are not
corrected in childhood, this usually leads to TMD and continued airway
problems for adults. Associated symptoms are headaches, migraines,
dizziness, neck and backaches, and sleep apnea, among other things. When TMD
is treated properly, the jaws are placed in their proper position and
relationship and allowed to obtain their full expanse. This results in
physiologic harmony of the entire jaw, skull, and musculature, which has a
profound impact on one’s health.
Fluoride
You should call a “foul” on
fluoride. Fluoride is a
toxic poison that is found in many toothpastes and mouthwashes and is used
by many dentists today. It is even placed in drinking water, as a drug to
reduce tooth decay. This is especially problematic, because everyone
receives the same amount of this poison per ounce—from a 10-pound
formula-fed infant to a 200-pound adult! This drug is not without side
effects. Fluorosis (white spots) of the teeth, lowering of IQ, increased
cancer rates, increased ligament damage, and more can result from fluoride
use.
“Fluoride in drinking water has not been proven to
decrease tooth decay,” says Dr. Breiner. “Ultimately, tooth decay is a
systemic disease. Proper nutrition, supplementation, and homeopathic
treatments are a better solution than medicating our drinking water. And
when selecting toothpastes and mouthwashes, consider choosing fluoride-free
versions to reduce your exposure.”
“If you have unexplained symptoms that won’t go away
no matter what you do, the answer could be in your mouth,” concludes
Breiner. “Understanding the vital relationship between the teeth and the
rest of the body allows us to provide deeper levels of diagnosis and care to
improve your life. Anyone who wants to feel as good as you possibly can
should consider an integrative approach to their oral health; it could
improve your wellness in astounding ways.”
Mark A. Breiner, DDS, is the author of
the book Whole-Body Dentistry®: A Complete Guide to Understanding the Impact
of Dentistry on Total Health. He is a pioneer and recognized authority in
the field of biological and holistic dentistry. Dr. Breiner is a fellow of
the Academy of General Dentistry, a past president and fellow of the
International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, and a diplomate of
the College of Dentistry, American Association of Integrative Medicine. Dr.
Breiner practices dentistry in Fairfield, Connecticut. For more information,
please visit www.wholebodymed.com.
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